New York is the most popular city in the United States of America. It is one of the most populous megacities in the world. It is the city that never sleeps. This city was the first capital of the United States of America. This city is a global cultural, financial and media centre with a strong influence in the field of education, fashion, arts, commerce, entertainment, technology, tourism and sports. It is also called the capital of the world. This city is the most photographed city in the world and is home to the headquarters of the United States. The highest number of billionaires lives in this city and it has the eighth largest economy in the world. More than 50 million books are in the library of New York City, which makes this library third largest in the world and second largest in the United States. The Federal Reserve Bank of this city has the largest gold storage in the world. The famous Statue of liberty in this city was gifted by France in 1886 to the United States for its centennial celebration. This city and its people are full of life.

When to visit New York, United States of America

April to June and November and December are the best times to visit New York City. It is the spring season from April to June, in which the weather is very pleasant to visit the beautiful places around. In the month of November and December you can enjoy the best festivals of the year including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. Apart from these months, you can travel to this city anytime in the year. It will always have something to offer to its visitors. This city will offer you a lifetime of experience to take home with you.

What to know about New York, United States of America

Language

The population of New York City is around 20 million people speaking a total of over 800 languages. There are many languages spoken in this city, among them English is the only language which tops the chart. 65% of the people living in New York speak English as it is the most common language. After English, 20% of the people living in this city are fluent in Spanish. Apart from them, some other Indo-European languages are also spoken in this city which includes Hindi, Bengali, German, French, Punjabi, Portuguese, Marathi, Greek, Persian and Italian. Some other minority languages include Urdu, Hebrew, African, Arabic, Yiddish, Polish, Russian, French Creole, Korean, Tagalog, etc.

Currency

The U.S. dollar or American dollar is the official currency of the country. You can pay using your credit card to save on commissions. You can withdraw your money from the ATMs available around New York City. It is advisable to exchange your money from any exchange bureau once after reaching the city.

Climate

The summer season in New York City is characterised by sunny, bright and hot days with cool breezes in the areas near the sea with the average temperature of 28 - 30, whereas the winters are cold, grey, cloudy and snowy with less daylight with the average temperature above the freezing point. But during the cold spells the temperature can also drop down to -10 to -15. In January 1985 and in January 1994, -19 is the coldest temperature that was recorded. This city receives 224 sunny days, 25 inches of snowfall and 47 inches of rainfall per year.

Transportation

New York City is the most populated city in the United States and has the best transportation system which includes one of the largest subway systems in the world, the first mechanically ventilated vehicular tunnel in the world and an aerial tramway. Rail is the most dominant mode of transportation used in this city. Local and luxury buses are available for travelling to different locations. Apart from these, ferries, taxi and vehicle hiring is also available for the people to travel around the city. 

Places of attraction in New York, United States of America

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is the most iconic sight of the United States. It is at the top of every first time visitor’s list of places to visit. It was a gift given by France to the United States. It was built in 1886 and is the symbol of freedom to the world. It is one of the largest statues in the world standing just under 152 feet tall from the base to the torch, and its weight is approximately 450,000 pounds. This statue can be seen from the land with particularly good views from Battery Park. You can take a short trip to Liberty Island to see it up close. When you are on the way to the Statue of Liberty, you have an option to stop at Ellis Island and explore the Immigration Museum. It is also a mind blowing museum which is located in the historic immigration station complex.  During the high season, the tickets to go inside the statue sell out so pre-purchasing them is a great idea. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1984 by UNESCO.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous landmark buildings and key tourist attractions in New York City. It was officially opened on 1st May, 1931. Art Deco is the architectural style used in the design of this building. It is 1,250 feet tall, 102 storey building and stands a total of 1,454 feet tall including the antenna which was built from 1930 to 1931. It has 73 elevators to move the visitors between its 102 floors. It is currently owned by the Empire State Realty Trust. Air China, Bulova, Shutterstock and LinkedIn are a few notable tenants of this building. Today this building is the seventh tallest building in New York City, 54th tallest building in the world, 9th tallest completed skyscraper in the United States and the 6th tallest freestanding structure in the Americas.